BUNIA, Congo (AP) — More than 100 people have died from Ebola less than a month after authorities declared an outbreak of the disease in eastern Congo, a grim toll as officials intensify efforts to slow the disease discovered weeks late.

Attacks on health workers from angry residents, skepticism among some locals and armed conflict in hot spots continue to challenge efforts to stop the Ebola outbreak declared on May 15, caused by a severe form of the disease.

Out of the 550 cases confirmed as of Sunday, there have been 101 deaths and 19 recoveries, the latest situation report said late Monday. The outbreak is concentrated in Congo’s eastern province of Ituri, which accounts for more than 90% of the cases. Cases have also been recorded in the North Kivu and South Kivu provinces, and has spread across the border to Uganda.

However, the number of cases in Congo is believed to be higher because the outbreak was confirmed weeks late and the contact tracing coverage rate, which has improved in recent days, is still at 64%.

The World Health Organization said Tuesday that over the last 24 hours, only 137 samples have been tested, with 35 coming back positive.

The latest Ebola outbreak is caused by the rare Bundibugyo virus, which does not have an approved vaccine or treatment unlike the “Zaire virus,” another name for the Ebola virus, responsible for most of Congo’s past 16 outbreaks of the disease.

The rapid increase in the number of cases is partly due to the scale up of diagnostic capacities, enabling testing of the backlog of previously collected samples, authorities said.

There is still widespread skepticism and disregard for health protocols in some parts of the province. Survivors of Congo’s 2018 Ebola outbreak, the second-biggest in history, have warned that a repeat of past mistakes could lead to a high number of preventable deaths.

Front-line health workers, who labor with little pay or rest, have been attacked multiple times by angry residents, and have been unable to reach some communities cut off by conflict involving armed rebels.

Eastern Congo has for years seen attacks by dozens of separate rebel and militant groups, some of them with links to foreign countries or the extremist Islamic State group.

Since the outbreak was declared in mid-May, more than 520 incidents impacting the work of health professionals have been reported, according to Marie Roseline Darnycka Belizaire, WHO’s emergency director for Africa. She did not elaborate on the incidents or say whether anyone was hurt.

Advertisement

Advertisement

Advertisement

Conflict and movement complicate disease tracing

The fighting is “disrupting surveillance and response activities, and increasing the risk of undetected transmission,” WHO said Monday. “Such incidents underline the challenges of the context and the importance of working closely with local leaders and communities.”

Nearly a million people have been displaced by conflict in Ituri, according to the U.N. humanitarian office, making contact tracing difficult as people flee attacks or move frequently in the vast province with dense forests, poor roads and remote villages that can take days to reach.

Tracing also is difficult among the thousands of artisanal miners who regularly move between remote sites in the mineral-rich region.

Advertisement

WHO currently assesses the risk of spread for the rest of Africa and at the global level as low.

“(Ebola) patients can recover if they get the medical support they need,” WHO Director-General Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said Monday during a visit to Uganda.

Protests in Kenya over US plans for Ebola quarantine

On Tuesday, Kenyan police fired tear gas to disperse protesters in the town of Nanyuki, near a military air base where the United States plans to build an Ebola quarantine center, a project that has since drawn protests but was later halted by the courts.

A heavy deployment of riot and regular police prevented the protesters from marching toward the base.

Last month, U.S. officials said Washington intends to send Americans exposed to Ebola while abroad to a new facility in Kenya rather than flying them back home. They said the center would be located at Laikipia Air Base with a capacity of 50 quarantine beds.

For more on Africa and development: https://apnews.com/hub/africa-pulse

The Associated Press receives financial support for global health and development coverage in Africa from the Gates Foundation. The AP is solely responsible for all content. Find AP’s standards for working with philanthropies, a list of supporters and funded coverage areas at AP.org.

Sharam Muhamadi was last seen in Birmingham after he vanished after being granted bail

Advertisement

A manhunt has been launched for a child sex trafficker who failed to appear in court for his trial after being granted bail.

Today (Tuesday June 9) Sharam Muhamadi was found guilty of two counts of arranging or facilitating travel of another person with a view of exploitation at Sheffield Crown Court. However, he was convicted of the crime in his absence as he failed to appear for the trial, which started on May 18.

Last month, the 21-year-old was remanded in custody between being charged and his trial date, but he won a bail application submitted by his defence team and has seemingly vanished, reports Birmingham Live.

South Yorkshire Police said officers had been searching for him ever since but had been unable to appeal for the public’s help until the end of the trial due to reporting restrictions.

It said its officers were ‘actively conducting extensive enquiries’ to find Muhamadi and had trawled through hours of CCTV, and phone records.

His last known sighting was in Birmingham on Monday, May 18 – the date of the start of his trial.

He was known to be in the city centre and then travelled to the Coventry Road and Small Heath Park area but then the trail went cold.

South Yorkshire Police said: “Enquiries have established that Muhamadi has links to the West Midlands area, and we know he travelled to Birmingham New Street Station via train between Saturday 16 and Monday 18 May.

“Our officers rushed to the Birmingham area where, working alongside West Midlands Police, they have conducted extensive enquiries over multiple days – patrolling the streets, officers have shown his photo to members of the public.

“The last confirmed sighting of Muhamadi was at around 9pm on Monday 18 May in Birmingham city centre.

“He then travelled in a taxi from the centre towards Coventry Road and the Small Heath Park area, southeast of the city.

“We do not know where Muhamadi travelled from there, but we are determined to find him and are now appealing for the public’s help.”

South Yorkshire Police said: “Enquiries have established that Muhamadi has links to the West Midlands area, and we know he travelled to Birmingham New Street Station via train between Saturday 16 and Monday 18 May.

“Our officers rushed to the Birmingham area where, working alongside West Midlands Police, they have conducted extensive enquiries over multiple days – patrolling the streets, officers have shown his photo to members of the public.

“The last confirmed sighting of Muhamadi was at around 9pm on Monday 18 May in Birmingham city centre.

“He then travelled in a taxi from the centre towards Coventry Road and the Small Heath Park area, southeast of the city.

“We do not know where Muhamadi travelled from there, but we are determined to find him and are now appealing for the public’s help.”

Assistant Chief Constable Hayley Barnett said: “Our priority has been and will continue to be securing full justice for the victims tragically involved.

“They have shown commendable bravery throughout our full investigation and the complex trial which followed. We are wholly focussed on finding Muhamadi and ensuring his faces the consequences of his actions.

“Officers have been relentlessly pursing all lines of enquiries. We are keeping an open mind of his whereabouts.

“We believe he is still in the country, but if he is found abroad, we will seek the Government’s help in doing everything we can to extradite him.

“We will not stop until we find him, and we will ensure these young girls get the justice they deserve.”

Anyone who sees Muhamadi was asked not to approach him but to call 999 quoting South Yorkshire Police incident number 610 of 21 May 2026.

People can also report any information anonymously to Crimestoppers, online at https://crimestoppers-uk.org or by calling 0800 555 111.

The figures show there were 27,352 recorded discharges from storm overflows during the year, lasting a combined 123,521 hours.

The data has prompted GMB to call for workers to be given representation on the board of the Government’s proposed new water regulator, which is set to replace Ofwat.

A waste water pipe on the beach (Image: PA MEDIA)

Delegates at the union’s annual congress debated a motion on Monday (June 8), calling for “a permanent worker seat on the board to safeguard from future failures”.

Water campaigner and former Undertones frontman Feargal Sharkey addressed delegates in support of the motion.

Speaking at the conference, Mr Sharkey criticised the privatised water industry and regulation of the sector.

“The brutal reality is as employees, bill payers, as customers, we have been lied to, we’ve been misled, we’re being extorted, we’ve been cheated,” he said.

“For 37 years, we’ve been subjected to nothing more than the greatest act of organised criminality perpetrated against the British people.”

He added: “We’ve had little in return apart from corporate greed, profiteering, financial engineering, political failure and regulatory incompetence.”

Water coming from a pipe into the river (Image: PA MEDIA)

However, Northumbrian Water said the figures relate to permitted storm overflow discharges, which are designed to operate during periods of heavy rainfall to prevent homes, businesses and infrastructure from flooding.

A spokesperson said: “We share our customers and communities’ passion for having clean waterways, and we understand that reducing the use of storm overflows is one of the most important things we can do.

“Between 2025 and 2030, we are investing £1.7 billion in environmental improvements, which will help reduce the number of spills from storm overflows and enhance water quality across our coasts and rivers.

“Data for 2025 shows that spills from our storm overflows have decreased by 32 per cent over the past year, and this is partly due to investment in infrastructure and trials of our world-leading Smart Sewers project, which uses AI to predict rainfall and reduce the reliance on storm overflows.”

Storm overflows are permitted by the Environment Agency to discharge excess water during periods of heavy rainfall when sewer systems risk becoming overwhelmed.

The discharges are typically heavily diluted with rainwater and are intended to protect properties and sewage treatment works from flooding.

The Government announced earlier this year that Ofwat would be abolished and replaced by a new water sector regulator, although details of its structure and governance have yet to be confirmed.

As for England, the Three Lions face Costa Rica at the Inter&Co Stadium in Orlando, Florida, in their final warm-up match. That should include the four late-arriving Arsenal stars, before the squad fly out to their World Cup base in Kansas City, Missouri, on June 13. You can follow all the latest news and updates from across the tournament – including insight and analysis from Dom Smith in the States – with our rolling news live blog below!

Numerous E-bikes and E-scooters were seized in the operation

A 15-year-old boy was arrested on suspicion of possession with intent to supply drugs and possession of a knife.

He was apprehended as part of a police probe into illegal and antisocial use of E-bikes, E-scooters, and motorbikes in Cardiff.

Officers carried out the operation after what they said were ongoing concerns. They seized a number of E-bikes and scooters in the Fairwater, Gabalfa, and Whitchurch areas of the city.

Cannabis, cash, a mobile phone, and knife were also seized as a result of stop-searches.

A 15-year-old boy was arrested on suspicion of possession with intent to supply drugs and possession of a knife.

The operation in Cardiff comes after police in Swansea city centre seized 29 illegal E-bikes in the months of April and May.

Riders were “given words of advice in most cases as officers aim to provide education on the law in the first instance,” they said.

PC Scott Pearson, from Swansea and Neath Port Talbot officers, said: “These bikes have been seized under Section 165 of the Road Traffic Act due to the riders not having a license or proof of insurance. In either case, the E-bikes are also not registered for use on UK roads.”

South Wales Police is urging people to check the law before buying an e-bike or e-scooter.

The force says on its website that electrical scooters (also known as E-scooters) and unregistered E-motorbikes are classed as motor vehicles under the Road Traffic Act.

This means the rules that apply to motor vehicles also apply to E-scooters including the need to have a licence and insurance.

There are two ways of using an E-scooter:

• by privately owning one
• by renting one through an authorised rental scheme.

It’s not currently possible to get insurance for privately-owned E-scooters. This means it’s illegal to use them on the road or in public spaces such as parks, street pavements, and shopping centres.

If you use a privately-owned E-scooter in public you risk the vehicle being seized under the Road Traffic Act for having no insurance.

If you cause serious harm to another person while riding an E-scooter or E-motorbike the incident will be investigated in the same way it would if you were riding a motorcycle or driving a car.

If you own an E-scooter you can only use it in on private land such as in a garden but you must have the permission of the landowner to do so.

You can rent E-scooters in some parts of the UK. Where a rental trial scheme is running rental E-scooters can be used on public roads, some cycle lanes, and other public spaces. But you must follow the relevant road traffic laws or face prosecution.

To use a rental E-scooter in an approved area you must:

• hold the correct driving licence
• have insurance (the rental companies provide this when you hire from them)
• meet the minimum age limit (this can vary depending on the rental company)

If you breach the rules when using an E-scooter or E-motorbike you could face a fixed penalty notice as well as the seizure of your E-scooter/E-motorbike and its disposal.

Forces set and enforce penalties differently so the penalty will vary depending on where the offence is committed.

The fixed penalty notice could include:

• a £300 fine and six penalty points on your licence for having no insurance
• a £100 fine and three to six penalty points for riding without the correct licence

You could also be committing an offence if you’re caught:

• riding on a pavement: fixed penalty notice and possible £50 fine
• using a mobile phone or other handheld mobile device while riding: £200 and six penalty points
• riding through red lights: fixed penalty notice, £100 fine, and possible penalty points
• drink-driving: the same as if you were driving a car meaning you could face court-imposed fines, a driving ban, and possible imprisonment

If you’re using an E-scooter or E-motorbike in public in an antisocial manner you can also risk the vehicle being seized as has happened in Cardiff.

Get daily breaking news updates on your phone by joining our WhatsApp community here. We occasionally treat members to special offers, promotions and ads from us and our partners. See our Privacy Notice.

At a press conference at Stormont this afternoon, PSNI Chief Constable Jon Boutcher briefed reporters on the status of the investigation.

Commenting on the prospect of disorder, the police chief warned people against being influenced “from afar through social media”.

“There will be an increased police presence across Northern Ireland this evening and in the coming days to provide help, support, and reassurance for all our communities, and to keep everybody safe,” he said.

“There is considerable posting on social media. I appeal for everyone to be mindful of what they view and share online. Sharing footage risks causing further trauma to the injured man’s family and loved ones, and may impact on this investigation.

“We are aware, of course, of protest activity being discussed across Northern Ireland this evening, and we continue to monitor this very carefully.

“And I understand that last night’s attempted murder will leave people feeling enraged with emotions from fear to anger, but please, please let the PSNI, let the police do their job unfettered and undistracted by wider concerns there may be about disorder.”

TOKYO (AP) — Chinese and North Korean state-run media this week devoted thousands of words to Xi Jinping ‘s summit with Kim Jong Un, but made no mention of a key matter for Washington: the North’s steadfast pursuit of nuclear weapons that could threaten the United States and its allies in Asia.

The silence says more than reams of the carefully framed propaganda.

Until disarmament talks finally fell apart in 2019, Washington and Beijing were yearslong partners in diplomacy seeking to persuade North Korea to abandon its nuclear ambitions in return for much-needed aid and political recognition.

Beijing routinely called for “denuclearization” — a bureaucratic term for nuclear disarmament — and there was hope in Washington, as well as in Seoul and Tokyo, that China would use its perceived influence as Pyongyang’s diplomatic and economic protector to push the North on the nuclear standoff.

Xi’s visit to Pyongyang on Monday and Tuesday — his first visit there in seven years — could spell the end of that hope — and signal a significant shift in how he views the North’s nuclear weapons.

From Beijing’s perspective, Xi’s silence may be an acknowledgment of how far North Korea’s nuclear program has come since Kim Jong Un took power in 2011 — and also how unlikely it is that diplomacy could get the North to give up the weapons it sees as its largest guarantee against outside interference.

Xi’s silence on nuclear arms is golden for North Korea

The Chinese leader’s last trip to North Korea, in 2019, was starkly different — Xi was quoted in Chinese media as saying his nation would play a constructive role in the denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula.

Beijing wants, above all, stability in North Korea and the region. A collapse in Pyongyang could send millions streaming across their long shared border.

To that end, China has often avoided directly pushing for the end of North Korea’s nuclear program, according to an analysis by Jiyong Zheng, dean of the Institute of Regional Studies at Tianjin Foreign Studies University in China.

Instead, Beijing called for the denuclearization of the entire Korean Peninsula — a careful wording that allowed China to also express a desire for an end to U.S. commitments to use its nuclear arsenal to protect South Korea and the deployment of U.S. nuclear capable bombers near the Korean Peninsula.

In recent months, Beijing has signaled it wants to prioritize stabilizing the situation on the peninsula, with denuclearization as a second aim, Zheng wrote.

Similarly, after last month’s summit between U.S. President Donald Trump and Xi, the White House said the two leaders confirmed their shared goal to denuclearize North Korea.

China, however, only said the U.S. and Chinese leaders discussed the nuclear issue on the Korean Peninsula.

On Sunday, Kim’s sister and senior official, Kim Yo Jong, dismissed as “false information” the U.S. readout of the Xi-Trump meeting.

Last week, Kim Jong Un unveiled a new plant to produce nuclear ingredients and vowed to bolster nuclear forces “at an exponential rate.” His sister also said that any U.S. push for the denuclearization of North Korea was an “anachronistic dream.”

It may be that China doesn’t want to see North Korea and the U.S. growing too close, said Park Won Gon, a professor at Seoul’s Ewha Womans University, adding that Beijing might prefer to keep the North within its sphere of influence and use that relationship as leverage with the U.S.

Xi may be tacitly accepting North Korea’s push for nukes

South Korean President Lee Jae Myung told reporters on Monday that North Korea is producing enough nuclear fuel annually for about 10 to 20 bombs and is close to perfecting its intercontinental ballistic missile technology, which could deliver a nuclear bomb to the U.S. mainland.

Kim, meanwhile, has stressed that nuclear weapons are an essential part of the North’s national identity. He has enshrined North Korea’s nuclear status in the constitution and dedicated a growing share of resources, industry and bureaucracy toward sustaining it.

Some analysts see China’s avoidance of the word “denuclearization” in Xi’s visit this time as a clear change in Beijing’s stance, and a tacit acceptance of North Korea’s nuclear status.

This shift could mean that efforts by the U.S., Japan and South Korea to deter the North will become a regular push rather than something seen as more temporary, according to Seong-Hyon Lee, a senior fellow at the George H.W. Bush Foundation for U.S.-China Relations.

“Beijing’s silence should not be viewed as a bureaucratic oversight but as a deliberate strategic signal,” Lee said. “By tacitly accepting North Korea’s nuclear status, Beijing strengthens its position as an indispensable stakeholder in any future negotiations.”

Even so, China’s acceptance of North Korea’s military ambitions may have limits.

While Xi’s visit signals a “strategic embrace of Kim,” it is “not a blank check for North Korea,” said Leif-Eric Easley, also a professor at Ewha Womans University.

Beijing wants stability and respect for its regional ambitions, Easley said. “North Korea’s persistent expansion of military capabilities is pushing the limits of what its larger neighbor will tolerate.”

___

Associated Press reporters Kim Tong-hyung and Hyung-jin Kim in Seoul, South Korea, Huizhong Wu in Bangkok, and Simina Mistreanu in Taipei, Taiwan, contributed to this report.

___

EDITOR’S NOTE: Foster Klug, the AP’s news director for the Koreas, Japan, Australia, New Zealand and the South Pacific, has reported on North Korea and traveled there frequently since 2005.

NEW YORK (AP) — Another sudden reversal for high-flying artificial-intelligence stocks sent Wall Street reeling on Tuesday.

The S&P 500 fell 0.3% after careening between an initial gain of 1% and a midday loss of 2.3%, pulling further from its all-time high set a week ago. After similar yo-yo moves, the Dow Jones Industrial Average added 86 points, or 0.2%, and the Nasdaq composite dropped 1%.

Indexes swung lower after companies selling computer chips, memory and other building blocks of the AI boom broke from early gains to losses. Micron Technology went from a jump of 4% to a plummet of 10%, for example, before finishing with a drop of 1.4%. That’s a day after it soared 9.9% and two days after it plunged 13.3%.

The computer memory company’s stock has already tripled so far this year, raising criticism that it’s gone too far, too fast. Following last week’s industrywide sell-off, the question is whether AI stocks broadly are heading for a long downturn or just needed a shake-out to get rid of excessive optimism.

All the while, several big-name AI companies are racing to list their stocks on a U.S. exchange and sell them at high prices. OpenAI, the maker of ChatGPT, said Monday it was the latest to file confidential paperwork with U.S. regulators top open the door for an initial public offering. SpaceX’s IPO could happen later this week.

The weakness for AI stocks drowned out the benefit Wall Street got from easing oil prices. Nearly three out of every four stocks within the S&P 500 rose, despite the sharp swings for the overall index, as the price for a barrel of Brent crude oil sank 3% to $91.45.

Oil prices have been unsteady as hopes rise and fade that the United States and Iran can reach a deal to reopen the Strait of Hormuz. A reopening would allow oil tankers to resume delivering crude from the Persian Gulf to customers worldwide.

Oil prices pared their losses, though, after President Donald Trump said Iran was responsible for downing an American military helicopter near the Strait of Hormuz and that the United States “must” respond to the attack.

High oil prices caused by the war with Iran have already created a painful acceleration of inflation for U.S. shoppers. They have also pushed bond yields higher worldwide, raising the pressure on stock prices.

Treasury yields eased Tuesday with the fade in oil prices, relaxing some of that pressure. The yield on the 10-year Treasury fell to 4.52% from 4.56% late Monday, though it’s still well above its 3.97% level from before the war with Iran.

The latest monthly updates on U.S. inflation will arrive later in the week, with one on consumer prices coming Wednesday and one on wholesale prices coming Thursday.

Inflation is high enough, and the U.S. job market looks strong enough, that traders on Wall Street largely expect the Federal Reserve will have to raise its main interest rate at least once by the end of this year. Higher interest rates would keep a lid on inflation, but they would also threaten to slow the economy and undercut prices for stocks and all kinds of other investments.

The average long-term U.S. mortgage rate recently hit its highest level in nine months, and high costs to borrow money could discourage the building of AI data centers that are fueling the U.S. economy’s growth.

On Wall Street, airline stocks flew higher after the drop in oil prices hinted at less pressure on their fuel bills. American Airlines rose 3.6%, and Delta Air Lines gained 3.8%.

J.M. Smucker jumped 10.4% after reporting a stronger profit for the latest quarter than analysts expected. The company behind the Folgers, Hostess and other brands benefited from higher prices charged for coffee and sweet baked goods. It joined a long list of U.S. companies delivering stronger profit growth than analysts expected, which has helped drive the S&P 500 to record after record this year.

Nuvalent soared 39.3% after GSK agreed to buy the biotech company for $10.6 billion. The shares of U.K.-based GSK that trade in New York added 1.2%.

All told, the S&P 500 slipped 19.08 points to 7,386.65. The Dow Jones Industrial Average added 86.10 to 50,872.11, and the Nasdaq composite fell 250.84 to 25,678.82.

In stock markets abroad, indexes dipped in Europe following bigger moves in Asia.

South Korea’s Kospi jumped 8.2% and nearly recovered Monday’s plunge of 8.3%. It’s been beholden to the performance of big tech stocks like SK Hynix and Samsung Electronics.

___

AP Business Writers Matt Ott and Elaine Kurtenbach contributed to this report.

The UK State Pension age is gradually increasing from 66 to 67 between April 2026 and March 2028 for those born after April 1960

Advertisement

People are being advised to verify their State Pension age as the long-anticipated rise from 66 to 67 is currently taking place. The adjustment began in April and means those born in the early 1960s may not retire at 66, with their State Pension age instead being calculated according to their date of birth.

The State Pension age is rising from 66 to 67 between now and March 2028. Those born between April 6, 1960, and March 5, 1961, will have their retirement age extended beyond 66, with the precise age dependent on their birth date.

For some individuals, this could result in waiting several additional months before they can begin collecting their State Pension. The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) is urging those nearing retirement to verify their State Pension age so they understand precisely when they will qualify, as payments do not commence automatically.

DWP said: “Between April 2026 and March 2028, the State Pension age will gradually rise from 66 to 67, affecting those born on or after 6 April 1960.

“Use the free State Pension age calculator on GOV.UK to find your exact age – you just need your date of birth. You can also use the Check your State Pension forecast tool to see how much you might get and if you can increase it, for example, by filling any gaps in your record.”

Another crucial point is the State Pension does not commence automatically – individuals must actively claim it upon reaching State Pension age. The Pension Service typically dispatches an invitation letter approximately four months prior to an individual reaching their State Pension age, outlining the steps required to submit a claim, reports the Daily Record.

DWP said: “Remember, your State Pension doesn’t start automatically. The Pension Service will write to you around four months before you reach State Pension age to invite you to apply.”

Verifying your State Pension age is straightforward and can be completed online by entering your date of birth into the UK Government’s official State Pension age calculator.

The full New State Pension is now worth £241.30 a week, some £995.20 every four-week payment period. The precise sum an individual receives is determined by their National Insurance record.

Most people need around 35 qualifying years of National Insurance Contributions (NICs) to receive the full New State Pension, while those with fewer qualifying years may be entitled to a reduced amount. You need 10 years of NICs to qualify for any State Pension payments.

The rise in State Pension age forms part of the UK Government’s long-term strategy, intended to account for increasing life expectancy and the escalating expense of pension funding.

Additional increases are already scheduled, with the State Pension age anticipated to climb further to 68 in the mid-2040s, though the precise timeline for this adjustment remains under review.

For now, the DWP states that the key priority is ensuring those approaching retirement are fully aware of when they become eligible for their State Pension and how to go about claiming it.

WASHINGTON (AP) — After complaints about staffing cuts and long waits to get help at the Social Security Administration, its commissioner says he’s ready to make the case to Congress this week that things are getting a lot better at the embattled agency.

Frank Bisignano is expected to face pointed questions from lawmakers at a hearing on his agency’s customer service performance, its ability to pay Americans their benefits, protect their privacy, and other questions about the inner workings of the SSA.

He plans to tout shorter wait times and other customer service metrics to a House Ways and Means Committee hearing slated for Wednesday, and slam his predecessor for requiring appointments for field office visits, in a letter to lawmakers viewed by The Associated Press.

In the letter, Bisignano states that the SSA has cut phone wait times by 75% under his leadership, fixed frustrating website issues, and served 50% more people.

“I’ve been very clear. We will meet clients where they want to be met. You want to call us on a phone, we’ll have technology on the phone, or you can talk to somebody on the phone. You want to come to a field office, you can come with an appointment, or without,” Bisignano told The Associated Press in an interview.

Critics argue those gains are being achieved through temporary staffing shifts, increased reliance on online services, and workforce reductions that have created longer-term service risks, shifting bottlenecks around rather than solving staffing problems.

Bisignano dismisses the criticism. “People boo at Yankee Stadium, even when they’re winning,” he said.

Bisignano took over the agency after a series of chaotic customer service changes, leadership exits, and false allegations made by President Donald Trump and Elon Musk — who ran the Department of Government Efficiency cost-cutting program — that millions of dead people were receiving benefits.

The SSA cut 7,000 workers at the start of the Trump administration. Roughly 2,000 employees were reassigned last year into direct-service positions, including staff whose jobs don’t normally involve answering calls.

The SSA’s Inspector General — its internal watchdog — has identified ongoing errors in benefit administration and claims processing. But its latest semiannual report to Congress also shows the agency has made measurable progress in improving telephone service and deploying technology to speed disability claims processing.

The union representing SSA employees and field office workers says some offices are severely understaffed. That includes Ironwood, Michigan; Decorah, Iowa; Havre, Montana; Big Spring, Texas; Sheridan, Wyoming; Glasgow, Montana; Pierre, South Dakota; Cedar City, Utah; and Cody, Wyoming, according to the American Federation of Government Employees Council 220.

But Bisignano said no field offices have been closed and noted that the agency is committed to meeting clients where they prefer.

“What I’m trying to achieve is to have a better way for the American public to interact with the Social Security Administration,” Bisignano said.

Bisignano also serves as chief executive of the IRS, in a role that was created by the Trump administration. Asked about a new tax audit immunity deal for Trump and his family that was part of the controversial settlement crafted to resolve Trump’s $10 billion lawsuit against the IRS, Bisignano referred The Associated Press to Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent’s recent comments to a congressional committee, where he refused comment on ongoing litigation.